Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi was stern in his response to suggestions there’s pressure to start Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams.
Williams, 30, secured a switch to the treble champions from Tshwane rivals SuperSport United this month surrounding much fanfare as the current leader of the national team.
The Bafana stopper made it clear in the final weeks of the 2021/22 season that he was seeking a new challenge after 18 years at the club as he now looks to win silverware and play CAF Champions League football.
With Sundowns holding two legendary keepers in the form of Denis Onyango and Kennedy Mweene, as well as Riyaad Pieterse, Ricardo Goss was allowed to move to Matsatsansa on a two-year loan but competition will remain immense for the number one jersey at Chloorkop in the upcoming season.
“Nothing puts us under pressure to be honest, because we’ve got number ones there, Kennedy was number one for Zambia with Denis and we’re never under pressure,” Mngqithi told journalists at the 2022/23 DStv Premiership media launch on Thursday.
“Ronwen is number one for South Africa, was number one for South Africa. We don’t know whether it’s still going to continue because Bafana Bafana is changing week in and week out.
“You don’t know who is going to be in then. So we just must appreciate the competition that exists amongst these goalkeepers because all of them are top internationals. Don’t forget Riyaad Pieterse also had a very good season last season.”
Mngqithi went on to laugh off the notion that the club kills careers, stating every individual who signs for the club knows exactly what they are coming into and it’s a case of sinking or swimming to succeed at the club aiming to become a continental giant in Africa’s elite club competition.
“Ronwen, he made a decision to join us because we wanted him there. But he knew very well. He’s coming into a team where competition is very rife,” he continued.
“Nobody must come to a club and say; they killed my career. What, what… Nobody is killing anyone’s career. People must come then compete and others succeed. Others don’t succeed, and we hope he succeeds because we love him. We believe in him. He’s a very good goalkeeper.”
Williams will be aiming to make his league debut for the Brazilians next week Friday when they face last season’s runners-up Cape Town City at the DHL Stadium.
